Ten axes Breakfast

Network Ten announced on Monday that their morning offerings Breakfast and Morning News would cease production.

The decision will also see controversial host Paul Henry, as well as co-host Kathryn Robinson, leave the network.

“It is proposed that Breakfast and Ten Morning News will cease production on November 30," the network said in a statement. "Breakfast television still represents an opportunity for Ten and we will return to the breakfast TV market at some point next year.”

The show has suffered a number of body blows during its short existence, including the loss of co-host Andrew Rochford in June as well as the fall out from the axing of The Circle in July, which was viewed as a casualty of Breakfast's running costs.

Henry, a former New Zealand broadcaster, has also attracted his own share of controversy. Both he and the network were compelled to apologise in August for on-air remarks in which he suggested asylum seekers should starve to death.

Breakfast first went to air on February 23 to an audience of 51,000 viewers. Its numbers have generally held around the mid-40,000 mark, though often dipping below 30,000. In May, the show twice bottomed out at a mere 22,000 viewers.